Russia's diesel exports double due to Trump sanctions relief... There is no shipment to the US.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Ji-heon = After U.S. President Donald Trump eased sanctions on Russian diesel, Russian diesel exports doubled last month, but no volume was actually imported into the U.S., the British daily Financial Times (FT) reported on the 12th (local time).

According to data from shipping information company Kpler cited by the FT, Russia shipped an average of 271,000 barrels of diesel per day last October.

This is more than double the average daily shipment volume of 135,000 barrels in September.

The U.S. government temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian fuel until April of next year under the diesel deal, and Ukraine stopped attacking Russian oil refineries for about two weeks last month in accordance with the 'energy ceasefire', which is believed to have led to the increase in shipments.

However, the media reported that Russian diesel has not yet reached the U.S. market as Ukraine-supporting forces have moved to block cargo transportation on ships.

On the other hand, exports of Russian diesel oil to other regions, such as Brazil and Turkiye, increased.

Previously, President Trump announced a 'diesel deal' on the 9th of last month, saying that he had reached an agreement with President Putin and that Russia would immediately supply 300,000 tons of diesel to the U.S. and global markets, and would supply additional large quantities of diesel in the future.

It was a measure introduced as public opinion in the United States worsened due to rising prices ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.

This transit deal caused a stir because it shook up the international community's sanctions against Russia that had been in place for several years.

The European Union (EU) and Ukraine objected, saying it was helping Russia secure war funds, and voices criticizing President Trump's agreement were raised not only within the U.S. Democratic Party but also within the Republican Party.

New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill sent a letter to port and terminal operators in the state, warning that importing Russian petroleum products could result in serious civil and criminal consequences as a violation of sanctions.

According to ship tracking data, the Agioi Panendez, which sailed from Russia carrying diesel, is currently staying off the east coast of the United States, waiting for a buyer.

A White House official said negotiations with the owner of the Agigi Panendez were continuing, the FT reported.

A White House official said that an increase in Russian diesel in the global market will help lower global diesel prices and lower the price borne by Americans, as intended in the agreement between President Trump and President Putin.

“As President Trump said, this is an agreement for the world,” the official said. “This agreement was created to lower prices for Americans and the world by increasing the supply of diesel to the global market, and that is exactly what it will do.”